The WALE sub--grid stress (SGS) model was adopted for application to transitional flows, since it allows the SGS viscosity to vanish in laminar regions and in the innermost region of the boundary layer when transition begins. Simulations were carried out for two spanwise wavelengths: λ = 12mm (critical) and λ = 6mm (control), and for roughness heights (k) from 12µm to 42µm. The base flow considered was an ASU (67)--0315 aerofoil with 45 0 sweep at --2.9 0 incidence and with onset flow at a chord--based Reynolds number Re c = 2.4x10 6 . For λ = 12mm results showed, in accord with the experimental data, that the disturbance amplitude growth rate was linear for k = 12µm and 24µm, but the growth rate was decreased for k = 36µm. Receptivity to λ = 6mm roughness showed equally good agreement with experiments, indicating that this mode disappeared after a short distance to be replaced by a critical wavelength mode. Analysis of the development of modal disturbance amplitudes with downstream distance showed regions of linear, non--linear, saturation, and secondary instability behaviour. Examination of breakdown to turbulence revealed two possible routes: the first was 2D--like transition (probably Tollmien--Schlichting waves even in the presence of crossflow vortices) when transition occurred beyond the pressure minimum; the second was a classical crossflow vortex secondary instability, leading to the formation of a turbulent wedge.